Star West Coast bookends Josh Kennedy and Jeremy McGovern say they have settled in well to Royal Pines Resort and are turning their sights to taking on Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The Eagles landed in Queensland late on Monday evening and were whisked straight from the tarmac to the hotel.
It was a long day for the playing squad and contingent of coaches and staff joining them after a light training session at Mineral Resources Park in the morning.
West Coast will ramp up preparations with main training on Wednesday as the clock ticks down towards the long-awaited resumption of hostilities in round two.
“To be honest, it’s just fantastic to be able to know we’re back playing footy this weekend,” Kennedy told 6PR.
“I think everyone here is just excited getting over here. We’ve come over a bit early just to settle in to the resort.
“It’s been such a long time where we’ve been just training and not knowing what’s going on. Now to be able to go out and play, everyone is pretty switched on and ready to go.
“It has been a bit of a mental journey over the last couple of months.”
Kennedy praised Royal Pines staff for their warm welcome at their temporary new home, which is about 15 minutes from Gold Coast’s thriving tourist hotspot but has cafes and a supermarket nearby.
“It’s pretty funny, I went down to Coles this morning with Nic (Naitanui) and no one actually knows Nic, so he was pretty happy he can go and do his shopping with no one pestering him,” Kennedy said with a laugh.
Kennedy farewelled his two daughters Lottie and Sage on Monday and after saying goodnight on FaceTime from the Gold Coast it sunk in even more that being away from family will be difficult.
“It hit home that we’re not going home for a while. But it’s just good to be here,” Kennedy said.
“I just said (to his daughters) that I’ve gone away for work for a while – I don’t think they really got it. Sage last night after her bath went to Lauren and said ‘where’s dad?’.
“She had no idea. I said goodbye in the car but she still had no idea that I’m away.”
McGovern has also left his two children behind for now. Some more families may join the Eagles in the hub at a later date.
“I think they’ve got the room next to me ready just in case I do bring the kids over,” McGovern told 96FM.
“They’ve done a really good job looking after us the AFL and the footy club so far.
“I think they’re doing everything they can to make us as comfortable as possible, because I think it will be tough.”
Reports suggest a hub based in Perth is an option after West Coast’s month-long stint in Queensland to help the AFL get the season restarted comes to an end.
McGovern hoped fans would be able to attend matches soon, and declared whichever team deals with the ever-evolving season the best would take out the 2020 premiership.
"I think it’s anyone’s race, to be honest,” he said.
“There are different circumstances. I think the ones who can handle it the best and get on with it and play footy to their best ability will win.
“It’s exciting, it will be good to see, good to watch and good to get it back on.”
